§3139.6. Monitoring; reporting; renewal

A. The Board of Regents annually shall monitor and report to the legislature and the governor on each participating institution's progress in meeting the established targets for performance objectives as specified in R.S. 17:3139.2 and the effect of the exemptions as provided in R.S. 17:3139.2(2)(a) and (4)(a) relative to the adoption of admission standards and the limited remedial education course offerings and developmental study programs at certain institutions. At the end of the first six years and each subsequent six-year period, the Board of Regents shall determine whether to recommend renewal of an institution's performance agreement subject to the approval of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget. Such determination shall be based on the recommendations of a review panel established by the Board of Regents to conduct a comprehensive review and evaluation of the institution's progress in meeting the performance objectives. The composition of the review panel shall be similar to that provided in R.S. 17:3138(C) as repealed by Act No. 251 of the 2012 Regular Session of the Legislature with the addition of two representatives from the business community, who each possess a postsecondary degree, one recommended by the speaker of the House of Representatives and one recommended by the president of the Senate.

B. If an institution's initial performance agreement is renewed after six years, the institution in exchange shall:

(1) Further increase cohort graduation rate goals as specified in R.S. 17:3139.2(1)(a) including the following, as applicable:

(a) A graduation rate of at least seventy-five percent for any institution classified as a "Four-Year 1" institution by the Southern Regional Education Board.

(b) A graduation rate of at least sixty percent for any institution classified as a "Four-Year 2" institution by the Southern Regional Education Board.

(c) A graduation rate of at least fifty percent for any institution classified as a "Four-Year 3", "Four-Year 4", "Four-Year 5", or "Four-Year 6" institution by the Southern Regional Education Board.

(d) For any community college and technical college campus, a graduation rate that is at least equal to the Southern Regional Education Board average for peer institutions.

(2) Continue to make progress in meeting all other performance objectives as contained in the initial agreement.

(3) Meet any additional performance objectives as determined by the Board of Regents.

C. If an institution's performance agreement is renewed after six years, the institution in exchange shall:

(1) Maintain the same graduation rates as specified in Paragraph (2) of this Section.

(2) Continue to make progress in meeting all other performance objectives as contained in the initial agreement.

(3) Meet any additional performance objectives as determined by the Board of Regents.

D. The Board of Regents shall inventory all institutional student records systems and recommend a plan to standardize and integrate such systems to include student transcript analysis and degree auditing components. This system shall include all undergraduate students and at a minimum and by student, the number of course credits earned, the number of course credits needed for degree completion, a time line for successful degree completion that shows if the student is behind, on track, or ahead, and course credits needed as determined by the student's declared area of concentration. The Board of Regents shall report on the progress of such standardization to the legislature and the division of administration sixty days prior to the 2012 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana and annually thereafter on the performance of qualifying institutions at achieving on-time graduation based on the student tracking and records system. The report shall be posted on the Board of Regents' website and shall be made easily accessible to the public.

Acts 2010, No. 741, §1, eff. June 29, 2010; Acts 2011, No. 418, §1, eff. July 12, 2011; Acts 2015, No. 100, §1, eff. June 19, 2015; Acts 2015, No. 359, §1, eff. June 29, 2015.